Writing Your Family Formals List

Family formals are an important part of your wedding day, helping to capture those timeless moments with your loved ones. It’s crucial to plan these photos in advance so that the process runs smoothly on the day-of. Here’s a simple guide to help you create your family formals list, ensuring you get all the pictures you want while keeping everything organized.

Talk with Your Partner & Set Expectations

Before you start making your family formals list, have a conversation with your partner about what’s most important to each of you. It’s common for couples to have different expectations when it comes to family photos, so it’s best to align your vision early on. Do you want lots of extended family shots, or would you prefer just immediate family? Will you be including any special relationships, such as with grandparents, close family friends, or siblings? Setting expectations upfront will help you narrow down your list and ensure everyone’s on the same page.

Make Your List

Once you’ve had that conversation, it’s time to make your list. Start with immediate family—this typically includes both sets of parents, siblings, and sometimes grandparents. If you’re close to extended family members, you can add them in as well. Be sure to include the specific groupings you’d like in each photo (e.g., “Bride and groom with the bride’s parents” or “Bride and groom with both sets of parents”). Having a clear idea of who will be in each photo will save you time on the wedding day. You can always ask family members for help in figuring out who should be included if you’re unsure.

Categorize & Plan

Once you’ve made your list, it’s time to categorize the groups to keep things moving smoothly during the wedding. Start with the smaller groups and work your way up to the larger ones—this helps minimize confusion and wasted time. You might want to group immediate family together first, then move on to larger family shots. I recommend organizing your family formals into categories such as:

• Immediate Family (parents, siblings, etc.)
• Grandparents
• Extended Family (aunts, uncles, cousins, etc.)
• Special Groupings (family friends, parents’ best friends, etc.)

Be mindful of time during this part of the day, as family formals can take longer than expected. Plan for 2-3 minutes per group and consider making a backup plan in case anyone is running late or a grouping needs to be adjusted.

With a clear and organized family formals list, you’ll be able to enjoy your wedding day and still capture those important moments with ease. The more detailed you are in your planning, the smoother the process will be, and you’ll have beautiful memories to cherish for years to come.